Mushroom and Gruyere Tarte

I only like to occasionally include homecooked meals - and this dish is worthy of one of those few times (plus there's a recipe link at the bottom!). It's positively delectable: a light and buttery puff pastry smothered with layers of Gruyere cheese, fresh sauteed mushrooms, and sweet onions. There is beauty in simplicity. The savory flavor of the mushrooms and onions sauteed to golden-brown perfection (which I'm always a sucker for) melts into the mild-with-nutty-undertones cheese. This is a PERFECT appetizer, or serve two per person to make it a meal.

Recipe available in this month's Real Simple magazine - or find it on the website right here!

Syllabub

Despite what rumors may fly, there were actually a lot of great foods in the colonial days: roast duck, pumpkin bread, pie, and...syllabub. Syllabub isn't particularly renown, but it should be! Syllabub is typically a frothy drink made from homemade whipped cream, sugar, and white wine. Our variation, compliments of my great friend Allie, had some extra holiday spices thrown in (lots of cinnamon!) and I believe she used rum instead of wine. The result was a spiked whipped cream-type concoction that was light and airy and full of Christmas cheer - and it was as much fun to eat as it looks. Though originally thought to have been made by milking a cow straight into the bowl to let it froth naturally, if you don't happen to have a cow on hand, frothing the milk with a fork or whisk works pretty well too. To make more of a drink than a spooned dessert, simply add some more wine (or rum) to the mix (though this consistency would make for a perfect pumpkin pie plate accessory)!

Where you can enjoy this yourself:

My friend Allie's place, if you happen to know her and are in the Denver, Colorado area
- OR -
Your very own kitchen!

It takes a few minutes to make - especially with all the whisking involved - but the end result is worth it. Though I haven't sought out any recipes for it myself, I at least wanted to bring it to your attention because it's a great little drink/adult dessert that is perfect for this time of year.

Deviation: Hot Day, Cold Soup!

Normally I feature restaurant dishes, but these soups were just so pretty, I can't resist posting them here. The best part is, the recipe is at the end of this post! They were simple to make - but my family had a hard time guessing what color was made from what - even after tasting them. Since there were four of us, and each recipe makes about four servings, I made all four recipes and figured if I filled each bowl half way, somehow that would render the right amount of food per person...which was almost right. We each got through about 3 of our 4 bowls, haha.

So here's the magic break down!

RED - Chilled roasted tomato - tangy and savory
PINK - Cool mixed berry - fruity with a tart bite
GREEN - Cool zucchini - unusual (but tasty!)
YELLOW - Cold velvet corn - creamy and SWEET!

Of all of them, the yellow was my favorite. No sugar is added, but it has such a sweet flavor you won't believe it. The green I could take or leave, but it was still a big hit to everyone with a mature palate around the table.

Where you can enjoy this yourself:

At your very own home: Recipe HERE!

Strawberry Banana French Toast

What could be a better way to start the day than with crunchy cinnamon-sugar toast saturated with strawberry juices and banana?? I'll give you the bad news now: this is a family recipe, so there's no public place you can go to enjoy it. But it just looked (and tasted!) so good, I couldn't resist posting it here! Each portion is served with a hearty slice of French toast atop a bed of succulent sliced and baked strawberries and bananas. The crunch of the bread paired with the juicy softness of the fruit is a great combination of textures. Rich, filling, and delicious!

Homemade Apricot Danish

A fruity, apricot jam spread over a rich cream cheese filling is enveloped by layers and layers of flaky filo pastry and topped with a whisper-thin cinnamon sugar crust. Sound like something out of a dream? Nope - something my mother whipped up as a sweet and tasty snack for my graduation party. It disappeared almost immediately - and the second one she made and hid for us for later also, disappointedly, was found and devoured before we had time to stop the guests. What makes this pastry stand out is how light but satisfying it is: the creamy and fruity filling is just barely held together by the flaky pastry outside, all coming together for a slightly both sweet and savory snack. The cinnamon sugar sprinkled across the entire top surface (hence the dark spots in the photo!) adds a perfect, subtle hint of spice. Overall delicious, and apparently very popular among guests!

Where you can enjoy this yourself:
[See final paragraph of this post.]

Shrimp Florentine

Shrimp, spinach, white wine, and garlic come together in a (at my house) notoriously delicious combination in my mother's Shrimp Florentine dish. Served over a bed of rice and often with a side of tarragon-seasoned carrots, the shrimp are so succulent you can't help but wolf this meal down. It's such a nice summer dish, too, because the flavors are light and though you're full after a single serving you don't feel at all *heavy.* This dish will also warm you to the bones in the winter, too, and is a great balance to - again - many of the heavier dishes that are often served once it gets colder outside. Two thumbs up from me!

Where you can enjoy this yourself:

You can't, yet. My mother is SUPPOSED to be working on writing a cookbook, which I have no doubt will be a New York Times best seller and be right alongside other classics like Joy of Cooking or Mastering the Art of French Cooking on your kitchen bookshelf. So, for the time being, I am only posting tantalizing photographs and juicy descriptions of her incredible meals. If this looks delicious and like something you might want to make between now and the end of the century, feel free to leave an encouraging comment below. ;-)

Mozzarella, Tomato, Avocado Appetizer

What a great way to start a meal! Fresh mozzarella layered with garden-fresh tomato, a slice of avocado, and chopped fresh basil drizzled with an olive oil balsamic dressing. I'm used to the typical (and delicious) appetizer of mozzarella, tomato, and basil - but with the avocado?? It's a whole new ballgame! The avocado adds a pleasant flavor - that complements, not overpowers, the other ingredients - as well as a nice and smooth texture that's a little creamier than the cheese. The balsamic drizzle is a perfect way to finish it off!

Where you can enjoy this:

My cousin Sandy's house!
-or-
In your very own home!

The recipe is very simple but quite delicious. There are lots of variations on this type of starter - swap in roasted red peppers, or bread, or both - but this is the first time I'd tried avocado. It adds a subtle flavor but doesn't make the starter any more filling (as bread would). Try it for yourself!